Grader



Aug. 28, 1923.

. 1,466,015 c. A. HARTLEY ET Al.

GRADER Filed Nov, 13, 1922 8 Sheets-Sheet l 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 C. A.HARTLEY ET AL GRADER Filed Nov.

Aug. y2s, 1923.

Aug. 28, 1923. y 1,466,015`

A C. A. HARTLEY ET AL GRADER v Filed Nov.. 13. 1922 8 Sheets-Sheet 6lpveyor's:

Aug. 2s, 1923. 1,466,015

c. A. 'HARTLEY ET AL GRADER Filed Nov, 13.1922 8 Smets-sheet 'i 1 1 56142, llllllllllillIlllllllllllllllllllilli -l i' '1 L 61111111511H/1111.111@ 13a 1 43911 JESSE Aug. 2s.i 1923. E 1,466,015

C. A. HARTLEY ET AL l@KADER K Filed Nov. 13, 1922 8 Sheets-Sheet 8Inventors:

\ j CHARLES A. HARTLEY e JESSE E. Ro.

BY: Il

HEIR ATTR sist-s infa fruit; and vegetable grader, a sin! gle embodimentof which is herein describedV and illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

Patented Aug. 28,' 1923.

iran STATES y iatale lPaffini" orsicQ jesuita. f

Application inea November 13,1922. serial No'. 600,707;

To all whom #may concern.' Y j Be it known that we, lCHARLES A; HARTLEYand Jnssn Mimo, citizens ofthe United States, residing, respectively, atSilverton and at Salem, both in the county of Marion and State ofOregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Graders;

@ther objects of thepresentinvention are: Y

to provide a single type of apparatus adapted to grade accurately,efficiently and satisfac-y torily, berries, orchard fruits, gourds, bulbroots, tubers, nuts and othcrwidely diversified objects and materials;to provide ra grader that may be adapted to simultaneously grade andwash the material supplied thereto; vto provide a machine so organizedthat ity may be manufactured, sold orA used on a single or multiple unitsystem; to pro-y vide a machine inherently adjustable for grade sizesand other variable conditions; to provide a machineV that is simple,rugged, reliable and compact; and to provide a rapid grader that avoidsbruising or other injury to the material handled and that requires verylittle attention. l j

To these an d otheren'ds our invention con- Figures 1 and 2 are,respectively, front and rear portions of a right end elevation of amachine organized and constructed in accordance with our invention, theelevator being removed and certain fragmentary de- -ails apparent fromthe specification or elsewhere shown being omitted for the sake outVclearness Figure 3 is a frontl elevation ofthe machine, the lowerportion of the elevator be ing` broken away;

Figures 4. and 5 Y front portions of a longitudinally contractedarerespectively, rear and sectional elevation, on an enlarged-scale`'taken .at the offset line IVIV `looking .-romright to left oi. Figure3;

ligure 6 is ar fragmentary sectional ele vation'on an enlargedv scale,taken at the offset line VI-VI-VI-VI looking from left to right o1"Figure 1; 1' Figure 7 is a contracted plan elevation of the. gradingroll system of the upper tier and associated mechanism and parts, thesuperposed portions of the machine being 'v removed to expose this View;

And, Figure 8 is a perspective schematic view'of asystem of chain drivesorfinteractuating thegrading roll rear counter shafts and the Vheadshafts of thereturn and cull dischargeconveyors;

A Similar reference characters denote the same parts throughout thedrawings.

Referringnow in' detail to the speci bodi'ment of our inventionshowninthe drawings, the frame 'of the grading machine per` se' is shownbuilt up of woodand organized on avsectional plan.' VThe frontl panel 1san individual part comprising' the posts 1 and j 2, a hea-d rail V3trimmed with a cornice 1, affoot rail 5,v an upper bolster embodying ficem- Y the shelves 6 and V"` and the struts 8,.and a l lower bolster.embodyingv the shelves ,Q'and 10 and the struts 11. The whole panel isrigidly vunited and is braced by the bolster construction in conjunctionwith the tie rods 12' and 15?). The'rear panel of the 'frame issubstantially identical toA the front` panel, the bolsters,=however,'being set higher than the' corresponding members of the front panel inorder to pitch the roll mechanism ro'ntwardly, fin' the direction oftravel or How of the objects being graded. The reference'charactersdenoting the elementsl and members of the rear panel of the machineframe-are accordingly thesame with the ad'- dition of a'primemark,'=thus: posts, 1, 2';

head rail-3'@ cornice 47 foot rail 5'; upper bolster.shelvesG/and 7 andstruts 8` lower 1 bolster shelves vr9 land 110, andstruts 11";

andthe tie rods 12 and13. i j 1 The sidepanels of'. the frame-'aref bothsimilar also. 'Theyeach embody ,respectively a head raillzll and 14',footrails15` and 15, j

.. frontV stanchions 16 and 16, `rear stanchions 16 and '16a,fand thevrhomboidally disposed diagonal bracesV 17 andl,v These panels are eachindividually united into a rigidY structure, the braces being eitheradapted to Vbe stressed in compression by central intermay of course beinherently adapted to resist stresses both in tension and incompression. These panelsfmay each be trimmed with a cornice 18 and 18to carry out the lines of the front and rear panels.

The frame sections are preferably assembled to be rigidly andpermanently set up andyet demonntable at will. rlheends of the head andfoot railsof the side panelsinay be doweled or mortised tocorrespondeing portions of adjacent posts of the front and rear vpanels andsecurely fastened to gether by bolts or tie' rods Vas indicated at 19and 2O.v Suitable horizontally disposed diagonal bracing, y the planes.of each the head and foot rails, complete 'the constraimnent of theframe. It will be observed that the various parts and fittings mountedon and incorporated with this frame do not interfere with thedemountability of the machine and further vthat the setting up' of agroup of `machines Ysuch as illustrated in .gangs is facilitated bythefeatures of construction herein de,- scribed and also that theorganization of single or multipleiunits of mechanism is convenientlyprovided for;

The grading rollmechanism in its most elementary form consists `in apair of rolls 4arranged in spacedV relation side by side and adapted toreceive ai supply of assorted sizes of the material to be graded at onevend, which objects are arranged in single file in the trough between therolls and during their passage along this open` bottoined trough, thoseof the objects that are sufliciently small, drop through the openingbetween the rolls where-as the larger ones pass along the rolls and aredischarged at that Vend of the` rolls opposi'te to the end at which they`were received. To facilitate this modus operandi the rolls are tiltedfrom the receivingV endtoward the discharging end, they are rotatedaboutjtheir longi` tudi-nal axes in opposite directions so that theircontiguous sides are continuously mov# ing upward and away from thethroat of the trough, and corresponding helical pro- Y; pelling'elementsare` wrapped around orpro ject from the rperipheries of the Yrolls to.positively impel the material from the receiving end toward thedischargeV end of Vthe trmigh formed *by the rolls. By setting the rollcenters at different distances apart 'the mechanism willevidentlybeadjusted to valter Ythe limiting dimensions of any obf ject that willpassfthrough between the V.rolls Vand laccordiifigly also the "limitingdi- Y.. mensions Ofthose j objects which ymay be preferably inserted inVcarried by the rolls and delivered atthe discharge end.

In 'the machine illustrated in the drawings, there are sixteen rollsYarranged in four tiers, a double pair ofV rolls constitutingreach tier.Increasing the number of tiersV increases the number ofY differentgrades which the machine Vcan separate, this number being always onemore than the number of tiers; whereas the number of pairs ofrollsgoverns the capacity of outputof the machine. A most economical,efficient and convenient system of construc- Ytion is inherent in themachine specifically set forth, the tiersiof rolls therein beingorganized in groups of twin vor double pairs, 'two adjacent rolls beingmounted with fixed axes .and .two 4remote rolls mounted with laterallyadjustable axes. It will become apparent that ythis machine may beorganized as asingle tier .of four rolls or any multiple thereof, `ormay include any number of tiers desired. And with slight modification,by omitting'the central twin pair of rolls having fixed axes and matingthe outer pairs, a section 0r tier may be'organized that embodies singlepairs of rolls. j

The roll mechanism of eachlof the four tiers being identical, a singleset of reference characters will suiice. The bodies 21, 22, 23 and 2,4lof each of the rollsmay be either metal or 'wooden and may becoveredwith a rubber jacket. In the present instance they are :plain woodenrolls provide-d with .a ferrule 25 at either end. The rolls v2] and 23are designed to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed fromthe front of the machine and each of these rolls vhas embracing itsperiphery for its entire length and substantially integral therewith aleft hand helical impelling bead 26. These rolls may be further referredto `as left hand y'Outer and left hand inner rolls, respectively. Therolls 22 and 24, on the other hand yare designed to rotate in clock-wiseydirection and are correspondingly provided with a 4right hand helicalimpelling bead 27. They vmy be `referred to as right hand innerv andouter rolls respectively. Each of the rolls is pro-- vided with -aconcentric.substantially integral front -end spindle, 28, 29, '30 and 3lrespectively, and also with the respective concentric substantiallyVintegral rear end spindles 32, v33, 34- and 35.` The` spindles, bodiesland beads -are thus unitedfeach set as a rigid concentric rotatablesystemr con-V stituting at once a rolljand a screw con veyor. Thespindles of these rolls are jour--V Vare provided on the front spindleof'each roll as thrust bearings. The bearing boxes of :the inner rollsare mounted in yturn in the stationary twin bearing mou'ntings7 whereasthe boxes of :the outer rolls are mounted in the shiftable bearingcarriers, as best shown in Figures 4, '5 and 7.

The .twin bearing mountings each embodies a Vbase 39 clamped or .boltedrigidly one above and midway .of Yeac/hof the lool-v sters and onebeneath and vmidway of eachiof the holsters. That is, base .39 isrigidly `secured to the upper side lof .each oft the shelves G and 6 and9 and 9 and also .to the under side of eafh of the shelves 7 and 7 and10 and 10', and since these bases are in line Ithe common studs .40 maybe used for 'both fastening the studs to the bolsters and 'for stressingthe latter to hold them rigidly in shape. Each of the Vbases 39 isprovided with a pai-r of spherical seating sockets 41 for receiving theba'll shaped waists of the `bearing boxes held thereby in 'fixed -spaced.relation 'and (3o-operating with these seating sockets is 'acorrespondingly socketed two armed yoke 4Z'which is drawn toward themating 'ba-se 'by a cap 'screw 43, A self alining ball and socket'bearingr is thus provided for' the inner rolls which nevertheless'locates and constrains .the latter.

The shiftable bearing carriers each embody a base 44 mounted on therrotatable and axially adjustable rguide -`bars 45 and 46 as describedbelow. A `spherical seating socket 47 for receiving the ball waist ofthe bearing boxcarried thereby is formed on each of the bases 44 andcti-operating with thisseating socket is a 'correspondingly socketed anda-'lined cap including a plunger Y48 passing through 'a `here in theh'ead end 49 venient removal or replacement of the latter.

T he ran oi: corresponding movement or adjustment ofthe yokeii -is alsomade vample for the same reason by providing` cap screws 43 of amplelength. It will .later be ohserved that since the bear-ing box mountingsand carriers are definitely located with relation tothe trame of themachine and that the bearing seatings although self alining for all theconditions met withl are of the ,ball and socket Vpe, the rolls may beremoved and replaced conveniently and at will, inasmuch as the VfrontTspindle bearing boxes situated between the thrust collars provide avery vsatis'ilaetory locating criterion for the ersing the shiiftablebearing carriers ior the 'bearing boxes ot the outer rolls extend fromone endL of the machine to the other and are independently operable.chine there are eight pairs o't' these bars, one pair 'for each set oir'bearing mounting-s and carriers. The forward bar 45 of eac-h pair In thepresent ma-A projects from the right side of vthe machine whereas thehinder bar 46 projects from the vlei't side of the machine and at theirprojecting; ends these bars are screw threaded into the guide bar blocks52 and 53, V54 and 55 respectively. The extremity oi" these threadedends Y45 (and 46 are squared as indicated by the-numerals 55 and 57 toreceive a wrench or handle for threading the bars to the right or totheleit in effecting the traversing adjustment'. thereof and a lock nut5S is provided for each ot theguide bars for setting' its zuljustment.'The body pertion ot' eacholt the guide bars pass 'Freely through and areVjmirnallcd in the bases 39 and 44. of the twin bearing mounting andshittable l-iea'rine' carriers. respectively. and the ends ott'hese bodyportions enter and are journalled in the corresponding g1' ide barbloclfs as showninost clearly 1in .T `ure '7. It will 'be understoodthat the bases 44 ot' the carriers .clear the adjacent portions of theinacl'iine traine an d th .usV when the collars 59 and (30 are rigidlysecured in their proper adjusted positionsfon the e'ui'de bars 41') and46 at the opposite ends oit the right and lettipa'irs 'ot shifting'bearing carrier bases ,44, respectively as shown in'rlilgnres 3 .and

7: the mounting. supporting and constrainment o? the carrierQ .iscomplete and tree :trom interference. It isjtheret'ore clear that whenthe bars 45 are threaded along in either direction theYcorrespondingrisht hand outer roll bearing' carrier will partake of thelongitudinal ii'iovement-ofthe guide bar and.V

hand outer.

similarly the corr .j et t. roll bearing carrier Ywill partake oi the,longitudinal movemenifpof the` guide bar 46 when the latter .is threadedalong; in either direction. The traversing movement and accordingly thespacing or separationade justment of the outer rolls with respect tothe'inner'erolls is thus obtained and eiiiected, one'end 'of each roll(or in ar multiple sec- CTI V Cu

tion machine each corresponding roll) being yshifted at a. time and inorder to facilitate the setting of the rolls the scales 61 secured tothe face of the holsters and the co-operating indexing pointers 62secured to andv carried by the bases 44 of the shifting'bearing carriersare provided as best shown in Figure 3. @bviously the reading or legendson the scale may be designed to meet whatever requirements that may beregarded as a criterion in setting the spacing of the rolls of themachine. rlhe lower limits of the grade lo lie diszzharged overthe rollas related lo the separation thereof is suggested as an example.

In order to wm'iduct the material to be graded into the proper troughsbetween the co-operating rolls` to arrange the individual pieces orarticles in line and to prevent their bobbing ofi" or being thrown fromor between the inturnina` roll surfaces. suitable sloping guards orfeudersare provided. A dihedrally angular twin fender 63 spans the innerpair of non-traversable rolls Q2 and 23 from crown to crown and extendsfrom the receiving end to the discharge end thereof. Tlie'inanner ofmounting'this fender is best shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 attentionbeing called to the fact that although the fender V63 is in all fourtiers secured to a fender bar G4 by means ofthe fender `irons 65, theattachment of the fender bar 64 to the base 39 of the twin bearingmounting is different in detail when this base is erect as in tiers oneand three from the arrangement employed when the bases are inverted, asin tiers two and four. ,ln the former case as clearly shown in Figures4, 5 and 7,` the front end of the fender bar is fastened in the eye'of avertically disposed elbow bracket 66 having a laterally extendingshankentering and securely clamped within the inclined socket 67 formedintegral with the base 39. At its rearrend7 the fender bar 64 issimilarly7 attached tothe adjacent base 39 by means of the elbow bracket68, the latter being appropriately shapedand proportioned to accommodatethe reversed position. of the base 39.'

For tiers two and four, the rear end of the fender bar 64 is insertedand clamped dif .rectly within the socket (i7 of the base BS) whereasthe front cudlof the fender bar is clamped by means of a collar 69within the scinicircular concave shell of the adapter ''O having a shankfitting into and clamped within the socket 67 of the adjacent base 39.

Each of the outer rolls 2l and 24 is provided with a slopinglender panel71 car-V ried by means of the fender brackets 72, to which it issecured, on an outer fender bar 73 which in turn is attached ateitherend to corresponding shiftable bearing carriers. ln'- asmuch as this barextends in the horizontalV axial plane of the roller system, themounting 1s uniform in all tiers..l As best shown in Figures l, 2, 3 and7 the ends'of the fender bar 7 3 terminate in flat'springs 74 disposedin a vertical plane parallel to theaxis of the corresponding roll andare directly boltedto the bosses75 formed atthe back of each of theoverhanging arms 50`by the cap screws 7G. This spring n'iountingprovides ample rigidity to the fender bar and yet provides theresiliency needed in 'lieu of a swivel conneetion tepel-mit the bearingcarriers to be shifted laterally independently of one an,- other. Y

The fruit or other material ,to be graded may be supplied to the toptier of rolls either directly or by means of -a supply conveyor systemwhich. may include an elevator. IThe material received by the rolls isthen divided inlo that portion which remains supported and isaccordingly discharged at once from the machine and that portion which,passing `thru between the rolls, is transferred to vthe next tier ofrolls below where the same process of separation for thel followinggrade occurs. rlhe succeeding tiers of rolls are each set withsuccessively diminished interspaces un- -til iinallyat the last tier,that material dropping between the rolls is forthwith dis-A charged intoto from' the' machine.

The elevator embodies a belt 77 provided with flights 7 S passing overahead pulley 79 which is rigidly mounted ena head shaft SOjournalled inavpair of self alining bear-- ing boxes such as 8l or 150 or 36 (whichmay all be identical thruout thedrawings eX- ceptiug, perhaps, for theirbore) and these boxes are mounted in ball and socket adjustable plummerblockssuch 82 (which likewise may be ident-ical thruout the ma- `chine)fastened to the head blocks 83 of the elevator frame S4. The ele-.fatorhead is connected in the machine by a U frame S5 the end rail thereofbeing pivol'ally and adjustably secured to the elevator frame where thehead blocks and side rails of the latter' meet7 the elevator may thusbeshifted laterally to .Y register with the si'pply conveyor belt S6.The side rails of thell` frame 85 are securely clamped within 'thepostghrackv ets S7.torbe longitudinally adjustable therein and thus theelevator head may be bodily shifted closer to' or further from the headpulley 88 ofthe supply conveyor. The foot.

vided by the plummer blocks will proveani-A ple for both pulley settingand belt tension.

ill ie supply conveyor extendsV from side to side across the top of themachine in a trough mounted onthe head rails 14 and 14. The belt 86 ofthisconveyor passes around succeeding f llO the heed pulley gegend-alelele pulley e9 mounted respectively'on the head and tail shafts and 9.1,thesefshats beingjour# naled in the bearing boxes 81er thelplum merblocks S2 secured. to the cleats 92 and 92. The upper coursefof the beltV86 upon which the material is-'carried slides over-the table 93 formingthel bottom of the trou-gh'y formed. by the shroudsfal and 95 curbingthe sides of the belt. Through thef'shroud 95 is -formed a gateway 96Vprovided with' an adjustable hinged sWiperga-te 97 adapted chargedirectly t'o the receiving ends of thel roll pairs 21,' 22-and 23, 241Without o'bstructing the flow path. The mouth of theY spout openingdirectly over the dihedral central fender 63, the latter divides thestream of material from the spout and dis-- tributes thestull equally tothe pairing rolls'.

JV hen a single twinV unit section machine,

such as illustrated, is set up, there Vbeing but' one gateway inthesupply conveyor trough, the swipen'gate'willentendi diagonally acrossthe' troughfroln Vside ytoifside. l3ntY When'a multi-section machine isconstructed a single'. supply conveyor.I functions' for the entire setoiisectlfons', a" gateway be' ingv provided at each section with an:individual swlper for jeaeh, and then 'these ,swiper gates are settoentend onlyi'partially across the conveyor belt 86' and each' efthemsweeps an appropriate portion of the'conveyedA material from 4the beltSGto eaclr seetion of' rolls. lOn the otherhand, it is merely 1 y jwithijnan underpan r`formed with sidewalls combining' a slepingjvd'etleetorpanel 124 and,

a vertically' depending skirt 125, a rearnecessary to close any oneormorejof' the hinged swlper gates, which -`are"adapted, to

be: 'adjustably secured in anylp'ostion, in l ,order to-cut off thesupplyf'to anyevertl'ca'lfly j 'organi-Zed section-ofthe machine.`

' The `discharge conveyors for the graded material spilled Hover the'forward' vends,Y o1E eac-hof the four tiers oli-rolls', are each"Asubstantially uniform. Y Thesel conveyors each embody a belt 102'Ypassing around the head pulley 103 Vand also aroundV the idle pulley104;y and like 'the supplyv conveyorVv belt, the discharge conveyorbands extend vfloln'eud to end of 'the machine, Whether thevlatterconsists of one or many such 'sections as shown in` Figure 3.' f Thehead pulleys 103 of discharge conveyors'number one,4 three and fourcountingfrom" the top of the machine are'e'ach mounted rigidly onfa headshaft 105, Whereas the head"pulleyo1r dis'1 charge conveyor number twois mounted di# rectly and rigidly upon an 'extension of thecounter shaft106 for driving' the' discharge f conveyor system. Theidlevpullleys 5104are' each rigi'dly mounted' on 'atail shaft '107.

These shaftsY are all vjournalled in bearing:

boxes 81^mountedin`fplummer blocks 82, thelatter being secured to thevertically extending posts and stanchionsz 1,2, 16,16 aud' l. 'Theplumlner blocks carrying'the counter shaft 106, hoWever,"is blocked'routby Asuitable cleats 'to increaseA the yclearance necessary-'for itsdriving gearing. Y

' 'The' conveyor belts 102 are shrouded by the sills 10S, 109, 110, 111,and by the ver tical skirts depending fromV4 the sloping shields 112. ybrackets113 clamped to the stringer bars 114 rigidly carried bythe arms`115- extendingv from the heads of the plummer blocks 116 in Whichthebearing boxes v8,1 ofthe tail shaftsFV -117 are mounted.`

The latter areA .secured to- *Upon these tail sh'afts'are rigidlymountedv the idle pulleys l118 of the three return. con'- Veyorsextending 'li'romlfront to rear respec-'Y shaft 121 journalled inbearing boxes 81A mounted in plummerbloc'ks 82 secured to the rearstanchions-16a and`16a of the frame.

The' cull discharge conveyor includes a1 belt' 122 passing at one endaround the lower idle pulley 118 and `at"its' other lend *embracingV thehead pulley 123 fixed to the head shaft 2fot the/frame.

Each ofthe return conveyors ishoused Wardly sloping front end Wall 126,a rear end Wal1j127, and an arcuate apron 12S,v 'hinged to thel'atter.These underpans are '123i1 journalled in bearing boxes Sl carried` by'fpl'ummer Ablocks mounted on the posts 1,

interposed between each ,roll tier and yits'.V

return conveyor (the last'roll'tier anclfits cullv discharge conveyorbeing a special case and' thus anexcep'tlo-n in detail); The slop lingupper bandy of the belt 119,v the skirts Ashroud the latter, and, therear end Wall 'and VYits apron which surrounds the head' pulley andstraddles the central'fender '63 of fthe next succeeding tier of rollsinsures the 'proper delivery of the materia-l carried by. Vthe belt 119to the receiving end of the underlying roll tier. AThus is the transferof under-sized material forthWlth transferred from one roll tier vtotheneXt-tierbelow, The Vunder-'panse*areeach securely strapped to rails 129which rest at their front ends upon the stringer barsr114 and at theirrear ends upon Stringer bars l130, the rst and third thereof beingstrapped to the adjacent bolster of the frame whereasthe second stringerbar 130 is rigidly mounted in a post bracket fastened to theVY frame.vAs clearly shown in Figures 4.and 5, dowel pins 131 may beA provided inthe stringer bars,

114and13() and corresponding holes drilled in the rails 129 to locateand retain the underpans in place.

l rihe cull discharge conveyor is housed in an under-pan similar to thatenvironing the return conveyors. The front end wali 132, the deflcctorpanels 133 and the skirts 134 are substantially the. correspondingelements 126,V 124 and 125 of the return conveyor under-pans. Howeverthe rear end ofthe cull discharge under-pan is open and unobstructed,the side walls thereof are longer in correspondence with the belt 122,and the positieningand mounting of this under-pan is somewhat ddifferentthan are thefothers. rThe mannerof attachment of the rails 135 to thepanels 133and their connection to and support on the lower stringer bar114 may correspond tothat of the rails 129, but at their rear ends, therails 135 are united as a sortoil upturnedV U frame and through thetubular transverse member connecting the upturned portions 136 oii therails 135- and spanning the-open Vend of this under pan and itsbelt 122,passes the lower rear Stringer bar 137 strapped to the rear posts oi'the rmachine frame.

The power KVtransmission, actuating or .drive system of the machineillustratedincludes the roll drives, the drive for the supply conveyorand elevator, the discharge conveyor drive, the return and cull con'-,veyor drive, andthe interconnection of these drive systems.

. On the front ends of the front spindles 28 and 30 ot the left` handrolls 21 and 23 are rigidly` but adjustably mounted the crown or bevelgears 138 and 139 respectively and on the rear ends of the rear spindles33 and 35 oi the right hand rolls `22 and 24 are similarly mounted thecrown orvbevel gears 140 and 141. The intermeshingspurvgears 142 and 143are rigidly. but adjustably mounted on the rear spindles 33 and 34 ofthe central pair of rolls and thus, with the Jfront and rear countershafts 144 and 145 upon which are mounted the -ixed bevel pinions 146and 147 and the slidable bevel pinions 143 and 149, respectively, therollmechanism of each tier is .organized as a system. The front and rearcounter shafts. are each journalled in bearing` boxes 15()l carried byplummerblocks S2 mounted on the trame posts 1 1, 2, 2. The fixed bevelpinions 1467and 147 are pinned or otherwise rigidly 'secured to theshafts 1.44 and inposition to co-operatively mesh with ythe bevelgearsf139 and 140 of the central ally adjustable along their respectiveAshafts,

and these pinions are clamped in position to co-operatively mesh withthe bevel kgears 138 and141 of the outer rolls21 and 24, by means of theset screws .153 and 154 passing thru the collars 155 and 156 embracingthe inner hubs of the pinions 143 and V149. The collars 155 and V156overlap the inner side oi1 the projecting tooth ring of the bevel gears138 and 141and thus since the conical form of the tooth surfaces o1' theadjacent intermeshing bevel gears andfvpin'- ions, in effect overlapthese gears peripher- 'ally, the slidably adjustable bevel pinions areyoked in mesh with their co-operating bevel gears during the process ofshifting-the outer rolls and their gearing for adjusting Vthe gradesetting of this mechanism.

lance for the crown or bevel gear rigidly but preferably adjustablysecured to the end ofthe supplydrive counter shaft 157 with which'gearmeshesthe bevel pinion 161 rig-- idly Amounted on the overhangingadjacent endV ofv the rear bevel gearing-roll drive countershaft 145 ofthe upperroll tier,V is provided. The bevell pinion 161 may be reversedend for end and secured to its shaft in positionl to oppositely meshvwith and drive lits engaging gear 160. This convenient when it isdesired to place theelevator at the other end of the machine although ofcourse the whole drive may be transferred to the other endet themachine.V A chain 162Aembracin'g the corresponding sprockets 163 and 164rigidly secured to the shafts 157 and 90 respectively, and another chain165 embracing the sprocket'pinion 166 and the corresponding sprocketgear 167 rigidly mounted respectively on the head sbatte 90 i and 80 ofthe supply conveyor and elevator:

completes the supply system portion ofthe drive transmission of themachine.

The discharge conveyor drive is similar. Rigidly mounted ontherear endof the discharge conveyor count-ershaft 106 is a crown or bevel gear168and enmeshed with this gear is abevel pinion 16,9.ri0fidly securedtoV the adjacent overhanging end or extensionk of the rear bevel gearingroll drive counter-V shaft 145 of the third roll tier. lThe bevel pinion169 like the pinion 161,Y may bere- (lll versed end for end andsecured'to its shaft in position to oppositelyengage with and' drive itsco-operating gear-16S, andtlius the direction oi' travel ofthe'discliarge conveyor belts 102 may be reversedthereby delivering thegraded material from the opposite end oi the machine. .A chain 170embracing `the corresponding sprockets 171 and 172 rigidly mounted onthe countersha'ft-'lOo Vand the head shaft 105 of the upper dischargeconveyor communicates the drive to the latter;l and the successivelyarranged chains 173 and 1711 embracing respectively tlieeorrespondf ingpairs-of sprockets 175V and 17651177 and 178 rigidlyY mounted as shownon the countershatt 106 and the head'shaiits 105 oic the third-andfourth discharge conveyors: coinpletes the discharge conveyor portion ofthe drive transmission system.

lt is apparent from Figure 7 that each tier ot rolls and itslpairing'iront and rear bevel drive eountershaits 144` and 145 are gearedtogether as a complete unit ot' the" It has 'also' drive or -ransmissionsystem. been shown that the supply conveyor and elevator7 and thedischarge conveyors are geared to receive their drive trom the upper andthird roll tiers. VThe various roll tiers and the return andcull-'discharge conveyors vremain tobe .inter-connected. in order tounite the various sections or 'mechanisms ot' the machine inte amechanical system hav ing a centralized drive* Totliis end'ive inavutilize the rear countcrshaft- 145 et the third roll tier as the maindriving shaft ot the machine andv conveniently-en'iploy theinterconnectingchain drive illustrated in Figure 8.- a i i il A maindriving pulley 179 may be rigidly mounted on the overhanging left end ofthe 'main driving shaft as shownl'inlligure@ and Afrom this`shaitftheldri've shown in .Figure S originates;` This'vdriveris viewed,vas shown in the'drawing,perspectively from the ri ght rear cornerofthe`machine looking toward the iront lett/corner thereoi".Y

This drive embodies tour triangular chain systems -emhodyingrespectively the' endless linked chai` s 180,' '181, 182' and 183 vandthe corr spondingly feo-operating toothed sprocket pinions and Wheels:184, 185,186; 187, 188, 189g 190,191;- 1'92; and 193,194-, 195. Thetoothed pinions and Wheels are all VVrigirlllj,v mounted theirrespective shafts as shoivnjin Figure Sf-and the various chains linithepinions and ivheels 'together as a. positive drivel rlhe adjustment'for tensioning the chains is provided by the adiustability of theplummerblocks 32 and their boxesY in rvh'ichrvthe 'various shaftsshovvi'r in VVFigurel are mounted as previously ishown and '(lescribecl.No? idlers' are required in this'chai `syst'eir'i and the openarrangement of the chain coursesV preserve "issupplied to the elevator.

riertl'y include the process of Washing.

the characteristic accessibility of' all operating parts of the machine.

Preparatory to operating the machine7 `the grading rolls ot each tierare traversed by the guide bar 'screws to set them with-the ap,-propriate inter-space separation. )Thus as suming the machine to beinstalled in a fruit Cannery and about to he used for grading iti-uit:The rolls loit the 'first or upper tier which are to deliver fancy gradeto the iirst or upper discharge conveyor and to pass choice and vallsucceeding grades, are traversed and set by their guide barsv until theindexing pointers of that tier register With the numerals or otherlegend oi' their cooperating scales corresponding to choice7 grade. areto deliver choice and pass standard and-succeeding grades are set tostandard; the Yrolls oft the third tier are set to .substandard; and therolls of the fourth 'or Vbottom tier are set to Water pack.

vThe machine is new set in operation by continuously. rotating the drivepulley'eitheu from an external or a self-contained source of motivepower and the fruit to be graded a The manner in which the fruitishandled and operated upon has already been explained and'various'suit-The rolls of the second tier whichv soV able niethodsot receiving thegraded fruit as delivered by thedisicharge conveyorsl Will be obvious,lli/hen it is desirable to Washv the fruit7 the machine may be set overa dra-in and piped to spray or flood the fruit with Water Vas the fruitpasses through the niachine. lt Will be seen that the organiza-- tion ofthis machine is such as to convein 1`lie modification or 'development oithis machine to embody fewer tiers or rfewer sets of rolls or toincludeV a; larger number et roll tierspor a Vgreater number of rollsets, is pre,V sumed to belivell Within the scope of ourr present*invention and suilieieni evident Without vfurther description'inasriuchthe elements, parts and'combinatlons shownV are thus Veither contracted'or expanded. The

vunit construction and inieicliangcalile part plan upon which thepresent embed ent et our inventionA is shown greatly enhances thepossibilities in these directions in addition to providing a moretolerant, versatile ei'iicienl' and economically produced construction.

vFurthermore the machine shown readily demountable Vand maybe quickly7conveniently and accurately 'reassemble-id.` This latter feature oitimportance .not only` in transporting and storing of the machine7but'also Yfor sanitary reasons and in the care and upkeep .of themachine; y Having thusk fully described our invention. vwhat We claimand desire' to'secnre by Letters Patent of" the United States is:v

Y 1L a grader,` the combinationfoiI a pair ieuv of rotatable elongatedrolls arranged side by side and spaced apart to form therebetween anopen bottomed openended trough adapted to' receive material to beseparated and to permit said material to travel longitudinally thereof,whereby the smaller elements` of the material may pass thru between saidrolls and the larger elements may discharge endwise therefrom, means forgathering the material passing thru between the rolls and means forcollecting the material discharged endwise from paid rolls and means forretating the rolls iny opposite directions with their adjacentperipheral elements travelling upwardly.

2. in a grader, the combination of a pair of cylindrical rolls ofuniform diameter through out their length, a continuous .spiral bandthreaded about the periphery of each of said rolls, said band beingnarrow with respect to the spaces separating the convolutions thereofand proiecting from the roll periphery as an integral portion thereof, apair of spiud les for each of the rolls, ournal bearingijs for saidspindles, said bearings being disposed to support'the pairing rolls iuparallelisrn and spaced apart to forni an open bottomed open endedtrough vther-elmtwren.. means for rotating the rolls, a conreyor rangedat one end of saidY rolls, ing means disposed. beneath t..V space,'fenders co-operatii with the rolls, a fender bar for each o the fendsubstantially'co-eirtensive -with the rolls in the axial direction ofthe latter, a common support for demountably holding each of the journalbearings of ther rolls and the corresponding end of the fender bar. ofthe adjacent fender, means for laterally traversing the supports for oneroll and itsv fender relatively to the other and means for driving therolls. i

3. in a grader, the combinationwvitlra plurality tiers of elongatedrolls; a plurality of conveyors disposed transversely of s aid rolls, aplurality of conveyorsdisposed Y longitudinally of said rolls, andjournal bearings and supporting elements for said mechanism, of a frameembodying a plu- ?itv of sub-assembly units comprising a f ront panel, arear panel, and a plurality of transverse panels, said bearings andsupport- .ing elements being mounted on rand positioned by the adjacentand corresponding frame panels, and said panels with their respectivebearing and supporting elements being adapted to be repeatedly assembledand dissassembled without disturbing 'the members integral. therewith. u

4. A grader coording lto claim 3 having a 'sub-frame for the rollbearings comprising a pair of shiftable guide bars mounted on each thefront and the rear frame panels. l 5. ln a grader, the combination of aplurality of rotatable elongated cylindrical rolls pci-ij `[neral lyarranged in groups of four rolls side by side extending substantiallyhorizontally and in parallelism, the two inner rolls of each group beingmounted inrelatively fixed bearings and the two outer rolls beingmounted in literally shiftable bearings whereby the outer rolls may betraversed with respect to the inner rolls to adjust the interspacingthereof, means for traversing said rolls, means for` rotating the rolls,conparallelism,-` the two inner rollsV of each4 group being mounted inrelatively fixed bearings andV the two outer rolls being mounted 1nlaterally shiftableV bearings wherebythe'outer `rolls may be traversedwith respect to the inner rolls to adjust the inter-spacing thereof,means for traversing said rolls, means for rotating the rolls, conveyingmeans disposed at the terminal ends of said rolls, and'conveyingmeansdisposed beneath the roll interspaces, a single dil; v Val fendercommon to and-spanning the inner rolls; said fender being mounted at itsends in unison with the bearings of theY Ycooperatingadjacent rolls, andan individualy single panel fender for each of ,the outer rolls, saidlast named fenders being each carried at its ends in unison with theshiftable bearings of its respective roll. 7. Vln a grader ofthe classdescribed, th combination with a pair of cylindrical rolls jeach havinga journal bearing ateither end,

a support for each of the journal bearings adapted to position the rollsside by side in spaced relation whereby a trough open att-heA bottom andendwise is formed therebetween,

and a vmounting for the bearing supports adapted to permit theshiftingthereof to adjust the interspacing of the rolls, of aV g fenderco-operating peripherally with each of said rolls, a supportingY memberfor each of the fenders terminating at either Vend in the vicinity ofthe corresponding bearingY support, and a ieXible connection interposedbetween each terminal of the fender supporting members and the adjacentbearing support, whereby the former is Vattached to the latter. i

8. In a grading machine, the combination with aplurality of rotatableelongated cylindrical rolls arranged in groups of four rolls side byside extending substantially horizontally-andY in parallelism, the twoouter rolls co-operating in adjustable spaced` relation with the twoinner rolls whereby a trough Open at the bottom and endwise is JformedVnally thereof, and an under-pan vinterposed therebetween, said(zo-operating rolls being between the rollsand said conveyor, saidadapted to receive material to be separated, under-pan subtending thegroup or rolls and to permit; the passage therebetween of the housingthe conveyor.

5 smaller elements of said material andto Y discharge endwise theremainder of the mw CHARLES A. HARTLEY.

ter-iai, of means for removing the material v JESSE R. MERO.- Ydischarged by the rolls from the machine, a Witnesses Y, conveyor commonto said group of rolls dis- GEORGE ALLEN PAGE.

10k posedA thereunder and extending longitudi- RUTH E. WALLACE.

